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However, he has given each one of us a special gift[a] through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say,

“When he ascended to the heights,
    he led a crowd of captives
    and gave gifts to his people.”[b]

Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.[c] 10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

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Footnotes

  1. 4:7 Greek a grace.
  2. 4:8 Ps 68:18.
  3. 4:9 Some manuscripts read to the lower parts of the earth.

But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.(A) Therefore it is said,

“When he ascended on high, he made captivity itself a captive;[a]
    he gave gifts to his people.”(B)

(When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended[b] into the lower parts of the earth?[c] 10 He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) 11 He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers(C) 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,(D) 13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity,[d] to the measure of the full stature of Christ.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. 4.8 Or he led captive a host of captives
  2. 4.9 Other ancient authorities add first
  3. 4.9 Or parts, to the earth
  4. 4.13 Gk to a mature man